First A-Match (3)
Most players good enough to make the adult national team usually have experience with the youth squads from a young age. Not just the seniors—all the age-group teams train here at Cheonan NFC. Of course, they train separately. But this was my first time ever checking into Cheonan NFC. Back in middle school, I'd nearly made the U-14 team, only to get squeezed out in the final cut, and after that, I never even got another shot... Everything felt so unfamiliar and wondrous. Especially right now...
"Tae-han hyung, when did you get here?"
"First one here again today. When'd you fly in from Japan?"
"Caught a flight this morning."
"Straight from landing? Ah, right—your family's all in Nagoya, yeah?"
"Yeah. Babysat the kids a bit before heading out."
"How old's your second one now?"
"Two. The oldest is five."
Even this moment—chatting with national team stars I'd only seen on TV.
Im Tae-han, the team's eldest and captain, currently starring for Seoul FC. And Jo Jun-seop, the Nagoya Grampus striker who'd be competing with me for the center-forward spot.
I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I ended up catching their catch-up talk from behind them.
As their reunion wrapped up, both their gazes turned to me. I bowed my head and waist politely, right on cue.
"Hello, I'm Cha Tae-oh."
Captain Im Tae-han approached first, extending his hand.
"Relax, make yourself at home."
"Yes, sir!"
Still slightly bowed, I shook his hand firmly. Then I greeted Jo Jun-seop too. He stared at my face, letting out admiring whistles over and over.
"Whoa... You could legit be an idol."
"Ah, haha..."
"What's it like living with a face like that? No, seriously—what's your morning mirror check like?"
Jo Jun-seop's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Im Tae-han, standing beside him, smirked and tossed in a jab.
"Hey, that's what I wanna ask you. Don't you jump every time you see yourself? Tae-oh, doesn't this guy look like a total thug? I was shocked the first time I met him on the team. Scared the shit outta me."
"I've gotten tons of misunderstandings over my looks. It's so unfair. I'm not that bad, right?"
"He's cute once you get to know him. But first impressions? Terrifying."
Im Tae-han eyed me, and I could only scratch my head awkwardly with a sheepish grin.
"That's why I envy guys like this. They say handsome guys wake up to a fresh thrill every day."
"Yours is a different kind of thrill, though?"
"Eyy. Being around him makes me feel inadequate. I'm heading up first?"
"Unpack and hustle to the gym."
"Roger! Oh, Tae-oh. Nice to meet you anyway."
"Yes, sunbae!"
"Sunbae? Call me hyung. Tae-han hyung, show the new guy the ropes."
Jo Jun-seop flashed a grin at Im Tae-han and headed for the elevator like a pro.
"You know I'm the captain, right?"
"Of course."
"Anything you don't know, come to me first. Don't be shy."
His words didn't exactly put me at ease. He was ten years my senior, a near-legend in the K League—and the national team too.
"No 'sunbae-nim' stuff between us. We're all just hyungs here. Drop the honorifics."
"Ah... Got it."
"First camp call-up for you?"
"Yeah. First time here, period."
"Know anyone on the team?"
"Just one guy."
"Who?"
"Sang-yoon hyung."
"Ha Sang-yoon?"
"Yeah. He was my high school sunbae."
"Ooh! Close?"
"Well... kinda? Haha..."
I knew some peers through connections, but only guys at my level. No real ties to the standouts. And with just one pro season in K League 2 at Gimpo United, I had zero national team buddies.
"Must feel super awkward, huh?"
"Kinda... yeah."
"Gimpo last year, right?"
"Yes."
"Hm. No one you know at all, then."
Im Tae-han nodded slowly.
"Don't sweat it. I'll introduce you to everyone later. They're all dying to meet you—you're the hottest thing going right now."
He grinned and patted my shoulder lightly. I managed another sheepish smile.
"Unpack and hit the gym. Ask Jong-du hyung if you need directions."
He gestured behind me. Glancing back, I saw a guy in national team training gear.
He introduced himself as Kim Jong-du, one of the staff and the head manager.
"I'll show you to your room. Follow me."
"Yes, sir!"
I rode the elevator with Kim Jong-du. The adult team dorms at Cheonan NFC were surprisingly comfy—single rooms, managers handling laundry and chores, no need to worry.
After a quick look around my room and dropping my bags, I wandered the dorms. I exchanged greetings with a few national team players in the halls.
None had any connection to me, direct or indirect. It'd feel better once guys like Ha Sang-yoon showed up... As that thought crossed my mind.
"That cover the basics?"
Kim Jong-du wrapped up the dorm tour.
"Yes. Thank you."
"Facilities guide's downstairs—check it out."
"Got it."
After parting with Kim Jong-du, I headed back to my room. A training kit was already laid out, national team logo gleaming.
Changing into it made it sink in a bit more—I was on the national team now. Wearing my name on the jersey in a real stadium? That would make it fully real.
I stepped out. Everything still felt awkward. At least someone familiar spotted me down the hall and waved.
"Hey, Cha Tae-oh!"
The one national team guy I actually knew: Ha Sang-yoon.
When I first started high school, Ha Sang-yoon was a third-year senior. Even then, he was famous among high school players—rumors swirled he'd skip college and go straight to a K League club. Sure enough, he joined Incheon FC right after graduation. He didn't shine much his rookie year, but once he claimed a starting spot the next season, he quickly became one of the K League's top midfielders. And just three years after debut—around when I joined Gimpo United—he earned his national team cap.
"Feels great seeing you again on the national team."
"Yeah. Thought I'd see you in the top flight first."
We weren't close in high school. How could a freshman get tight with a senior? Still, I remembered him as the kind senior who always had warm words for underclassmen. Same with me.
"Anyway, awesome reuniting here. You know there's no one else from our school on the team right now?"
"No way?"
"School ties are hard to beat."
Ha Sang-yoon grinned. Despite the time gap, there was zero awkwardness with him. I stuck by his side all the way to the gym, chatting away. My nerves eased a little.
"How's life in Spain?"
"Great. Food suits me better than I expected."
"Language?"
"Studied Spanish ahead of time—no issues adapting."
"Nice. Coach Joao Martins must love that."
"No one he can talk to?"
Joao Martins was Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese have plenty in common—neighboring countries and all.
"Nah, he always tells guys eyeing Europe: 'Wanna succeed? Learn the language first. Before soccer.'"
"Ah."
"Probably helped you settle and shine so fast."
I didn't deny it. Sure, the goblin hadn't gifted me language skills, but I doubt succeeding in Spain would've been that hard anyway... Though team chemistry might've suffered.
"I'm thinking Europe too. Or the US."
"...!"
Ha Sang-yoon could pull it off. His fundamentals were on another level— the kind of player who made you say, "He strikes the ball so prettily." Watching him play pulled awed gasps naturally, highlighting an insurmountable gap. Three such players in high school: Ha Sang-yoon, and the other two now playing in Europe—the same league, same club even.
"Got an agent?"
"If a super agent like your Borja Navas came knocking, I'd jump at Europe... No such luck."
"Ah..."
Ha Sang-yoon shrugged with a wry smile.
"Bigger issue than that, though."
"What?"
He gave me a look like you know.
"Military, obviously."
I nodded instinctively. It wasn't just his problem—mine too. Borja Navas had even said big clubs might hesitate over it.
To get top treatment from a big club pre-service? One way: Get residency abroad and tough it out overseas. But that'd tank my Korean status.
"My goal's next year's Asian Games gold first. Smooths the overseas path. But you know I'm turning 24 this year."
"Yeah."
"Gotta grind harder. For that wildcard spot."
His eyes flashed. He was locked in, motivated.
Suddenly, I wished we could team up for Asian Games gold. Seemed doable—even solo, I could probably snag it. My confidence was peaking lately. Still... teammates would make it smoother.
"So you and I gotta kill it. You get me?"
Entering the gym, two players chatted near the door. Ha Sang-yoon waved; they hurried over.
"You know 'em?"
I nodded. How could I not?
Lee Hyun-jun, a year my junior, dribbling wizard winger. And Ryu Sang-heon, my age, now my rival for the striker spot.
The other two from high school who'd crushed my spirits.